FIFTEEN years ago, surgeon Professor Ray Donnelly established what was to become the world's first centre for research into lung cancer.

Now he has written a book about his experiences as he and his team have battled to find a cure for lung cancer.

Here are just some of them ...

Ray on ... bringing Roy Castle on board

Sylvia Ingham (a colleague at the lung cancer fund) said to me: "We must do something big".

The research centre was the obvious choice and we began to discuss how to involve Roy in this. We agreed that we would put Roy's name on the laboratory in the centre if he would support us in our appeal.

Later, we would put his name on the whole building. But how could we enlist Roy's support to build the world's first international lung cancer research centre?

Ian Fisher helped Sylvia draft a letter to Roy and Catherine faxed this down to him. Within minutes the telephone rang and Roy was on the other end. "Let's go for it", he said. "The doctor says I may not live until the New Year, so, yes, you can use my name but I may not be able to do very much for you because I am not very well."

We were on our way! Neither Roy, nor we, had any idea of the scale of the impact which Roy would make upon the nation and the success which the appeal bearing his name would have.

Ray on ... the way the people of Merseyside took Roy Castle to their hearts

Roy Castle was invited to toss the coin before the start of the derby match at Anfield on March 13, 1994.

Over 44,000 people packed the terraces and stands. Roy's appearance had been well advertised and there was a bucket collection at the gates which raised a record #10,000.

About an hour before kick-off he was walking round the perimeter of the ground when he was spotted by some fans on the Kop. Some of them chanted his name and he began to smile, at which point he became instantly recognisable to many others.

There were about 10,000 fans already in the Kop and, in a marvellous show of affection, they took up the chant and Roy was obviously very moved.

Things quietened down a little as Roy went into the players' tunnel but soon he was leading the players out, wearing the scarves of both Liverpool and Everton.

The chant "There's only one Roy Castle" began to reverberate around the ground. The visiting fans at the other end of the ground were also from Liverpool because they were Evertonians and the whole crowd, nearly 45,000, was on its feet clapping and whistling and chanting "There's only one Roy Castle".

And how right they were! I was in my usual place in the Paddock and found the whole thing very emotional.

Roy was experiencing what he richly deserved, the love and respect of the people of Liverpool and he was returning it to them.

Ray on ... how he learned of Roy Castle's death

We drove up to Cumbria for the funeral of Sylvia's father, we knew that Roy was close to death. As a surgeon who was never off duty, I always carried a long range bleep and I arranged for my daughter Catherine to contact me as soon as word reached the office in Liverpool.

Sylvia had asked me to read the lesson and I went to the lectern at the appropriate moment. Halfway through the text I felt the bleep buzzing in my pocket and this is how I knew that Roy had died.

It was an emotional moment and I suppose it was my surgical training which helped me continue reading without interruption. The date was September 2, 1994 and "Duracell man" had finally stopped running.

Ray on ... the opening of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

Huge crowds turned out for the opening of the Centre by Sir Cliff Richard on May 12, 1998.

When Sir Cliff arrived he received a tremendous welcome and went around the whole perimeter of the railings, touching hands and saying hello to as many people he could.

After touring the facilities in the Centre, the special guests joined nearly a hundred close friends and supporters of the Foundation in the lecture theatre for the opening ceremony performed by Sir Cliff, who said that "Roy would have been thrilled this has finally happened. It has been a magnificent day".

Quite a day! We were all very tired but we had finally done it. Roy's heroic efforts had not been in vain.

Ray on... the ongoing battle for funding

George Harrison died on November 29,2001. Coming from Liverpool, as he did, and dying of cancer, I tried everything to contact his family to ask them to help the Foundation.

Coming from Liverpool, as he did, and dying of lung cancer, I tried everything to contact his family to ask them to help the Foundation.

I contacted his surgeon, his agent, Sir George Martin who had worked so closely with him, and anyone else we could think of, but without success.

Perhaps one day we will be able to do something with his family and fans to preserve his memory in a way which helps all those who suffer from the disease which prematurely took his own life.

The list of other famous people who have died from lung cancer is remarkable. John Wayne, Yul Brynner, Walt Disney, Jack Benny, Gary Cooper, George Peppard, Groucho Marx, Betty Grable, Humphrey Bogart, King George VI, Louis Armstrong, Michael Williams, Nat King Cole and Vincent Price.

Just a little from the estate of any of these or from their families or fans would enable us to do so much.